Prime Minister inaugurates, lays foundation stone and flags off major rail, port and connectivity projects; highlights multimodal transport, green mobility and port-led development as drivers of West Bengal’s economic transformation
TFP Bureau, Singur (West Bengal), January 19, 2026:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled a major infrastructure and connectivity push for West Bengal by inaugurating, laying the foundation stone and flagging off a series of development projects worth more than ₹830 crore at Singur in Hooghly district. Addressing a large gathering, the Prime Minister underlined that the development of Eastern India is central to the vision of a developed India and reiterated the Union Government’s sustained commitment to accelerating growth in the region.
Recalling his visit to Malda a day earlier, the Prime Minister said that his back-to-back engagements in different parts of the state reflected the Centre’s focus on West Bengal’s progress. He noted that projects worth hundreds of crores were being launched and inaugurated over the past two days, marking a decisive step towards strengthening infrastructure, connectivity and economic opportunities in the state.
Highlighting recent milestones in rail connectivity, Shri Modi said that West Bengal has emerged as a key beneficiary of the Indian Railways’ modernisation drive. He pointed out that the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train was launched from the state a day earlier, while nearly half a dozen Amrit Bharat Express trains have already been introduced. On Saturday, three more Amrit Bharat Express trains were flagged off, further enhancing long-distance connectivity. One of these trains, he noted, will directly strengthen links between his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and West Bengal, while others will connect the state with Delhi and Tamil Nadu. He described the developments of the last 24 hours as unprecedented for rail connectivity in the state.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to West Bengal’s immense potential in inland waterways and port-led development. He said the Union Government is investing heavily in creating modern infrastructure to fully harness this potential. As part of this effort, projects related to ports and river waterways were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the programme. Shri Modi stressed that these initiatives would serve as key pillars in transforming West Bengal into a major hub for manufacturing, trade and logistics.
A major highlight of the event was the laying of the foundation stone for the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh in Hooghly district. The project includes an Inland Water Transport terminal and a Road Over Bridge and is spread over nearly 900 acres. Once completed, Balagarh will function as a modern cargo handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum. The facility will have two dedicated cargo handling jetties—one for containerised cargo and another for dry bulk cargo.
Shri Modi said the Balagarh Extended Port Gate System will open the doors to new opportunities for Hooghly and surrounding areas by easing logistics pressure on Kolkata city. By diverting heavy cargo traffic away from congested urban corridors, the project will improve road safety, reduce congestion and pollution, and enhance the quality of life for residents. He added that improved multimodal connectivity will make Hooghly a warehousing and trading hub, attract investments worth hundreds of crores, generate thousands of jobs and provide new market access to farmers, MSMEs, traders and transporters.
Emphasising the Centre’s broader infrastructure vision, the Prime Minister said India is placing strong emphasis on multimodal connectivity and green mobility. Ports, river waterways, highways and airports are being seamlessly integrated to reduce logistics costs and transportation time. He added that the government is also prioritising environment-friendly transport solutions. In this context, he launched a state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata—one of six indigenously built hybrid electric vessels by Cochin Shipyard Limited for inland water transport. The 50-passenger catamaran, equipped with advanced electric propulsion and lithium-titanate battery technology, can operate in zero-emission mode and will support eco-tourism, urban river mobility and last-mile connectivity along the Hooghly River.
In the rail sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line, part of the larger Tarkeshwar–Bishnupur project, and flagged off a new passenger service on this route. The line will provide direct rail connectivity to Bankura district, benefiting daily commuters, students and pilgrims by making travel more affordable and convenient.
Shri Modi also spoke about India’s rapid progress in fisheries and seafood production and said he envisions West Bengal emerging as a national leader in this sector. He noted that river-based infrastructure and connectivity projects are already benefiting farmers and fishermen, and will further strengthen livelihoods linked to waterways.
The Prime Minister flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains—Howrah–Anand Vihar Terminal, Sealdah–Banaras and Santragachi–Tambaram—marking another significant step in expanding affordable long-distance rail services from the state.
Governor of West Bengal Shri C.V. Ananda Bose, Union Ministers Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Shantanu Thakur and Shri Sukanta Majumdar, along with senior officials and public representatives, were present at the event.
The Prime Minister concluded by stating that the projects launched in Singur would significantly accelerate West Bengal’s development journey, strengthen Eastern India’s role in national growth and bring tangible benefits to people across sectors, from transport and trade to agriculture and tourism.
